Thornaby FC are set to U-turn on their decision to disband their women’s teams, following backlash from the general public and superstar figures within professional football.
According to reports by the BBC, it comes as the club will also appoint a new CEO, Alison McGee, who’s currently a director at Durata, a company who have sponsored the women’s side over the last two years and, as it states on their website, provide “end-to-end solutions for critical power and mechanical systems.”
Although the club had originally suggested that they were pushed into dropping their women’s teams due to a "difficult year" financially, it now seems they will have the "foundations to carry on", according to a statement.
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"We have been around this fantastic club for the last couple of years and this next chapter is an exciting prospect to be part of," McGee says.
"There is so much potential for men and women together, girls and boys, one club,” she adds.
As is further outlined by the BCC, after financial “financial due diligence checks” McGee could be accompanied on a new look board by her husband John McGee, the managing director at Durata, chairman Garry Morris, Philip Genery, a Thornaby Town Councillor, as well as Rachel Stonehouse.
On the news, Thornaby FC Women’s co-managers Abbey Lyle and Claire Streeter also shared their thoughts.
“We want to shine a positive light and we are proud of the football community for standing by us on this,” they said.
“We are excited about what is to come and we want to look ahead.
“We would love for the club to hit new levels and look to the future.”
Last week, the club based in Stockton-on-Tees, Middlesbrough, in the United Kingdom, announced that following a vote at an emergency general meeting, they would be abandoning their women’s and girls’ football teams.
This was anticipated to leave over 100 players without a club from U7s right up to senior level, and garnered the attention of football fans and stakeholders around the globe, including England and Arsenal tallyswoman Beth Mead.
